‘There is going to be no abandonment of Catholic doctrine,’ says George Pell.
Photograph: Mark Baker/AP

The most senior Australian in the Vatican says the discussions at the Synod on the Family are not taking the Catholic Church in a new direction in its teachings on marriage, sexuality and family, despite a more liberal stance from Pope Francis.

“There is going to be no abandonment of Catholic doctrine,” Cardinal George Pell told the Catholic News Service from the synod, which concludes this weekend.

“Discussions ... are not taking the church in a new direction in its teachings on marriage, sexuality and family.”

He dismissed reports that a growing number of cardinals wanted to recognise “same sex unions” and allow communion to be offered to divorced and remarried people.

“These views were held by only a very small number,” he said in a statement released through lay group Catholic Voices Australia.

“This kind of shift is not ultimately possible within the Catholic Church.”

Priests and laypeople from across the world have taken part in the synod.

Many lay Catholics are hoping for a shift in the church’s approach to explaining these teachings, and in its pastoral approach towards families facing challenges and difficulties.